THE LADDER

The Ladder was seen as a conscious return to the ‘classic’ YES sound, while maintaining a contemporary edge. It is Igor Khoroshev only outing as a full time member of YES, and the last with guitarist Billy Sherwood.

YES decided to bring in the objective ears of producer Bruce Fairbairn, to give the music the benefit of an outsider’s perspective. When the band decamped to Vancouver, Canada to record The Ladder, Igor Khoroshev was brought on board as the group’s official keyboardist, Sherwood joined Steve Howe playing guitars.

Although the sessions went off successfully, with all concerned very pleased with the end results, the project ended with Fairbairn’s sudden death in May 1999. Fairbairn died just before the recording of final vocals and mixing. YES dedicated the album to their late producer upon its release.

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Rejoice, Millennium Years 1998-2001 - from David Watkinson's 'Perpetual Change'

The next album began recording in Vancouver, Canada, with producer Bruce Fairbairn, who had just finished work with Aerosmith and had built up a good track record with Loverboy, AC/DC, Kiss, The Cranberries and Bon Jovi.

The hectic schedule of studio sessions continued throughout the months of April and May. These broke off abruptly, however, following the sudden death of Bruce Fairbairn in his sleep, aged 49, from natural causes. As a producer, Fairbairn had been an excellent motivator to YES, a straight talker who had drawn out the true essence of the YES sound. His untimely death was extremely sad, but, paradoxically, also acted as a powerful incentive for the band to forge ahead with some of the best music in their recent career. At Bruce’s memorial service held on 24 May in Vancouver, Jon and Steve performed ‘Nine Voices‘ from the forthcoming album, the finished album itself would be dedicated to Bruce’s memory.

Their millennial album, The Ladder, was released in September, just after the 30th anniversary of the release of their first album YES. Truly a band album, it was immediately embraced by the fans as a return to form. ‘After a year and a half touring, we went straight into the studios to start rehearsing, so we were already working as a complete band’ explains Jon. ‘That’s why we were able to make The Ladder more of a complete album because everybody had so much energy to perform together. It was a lot easier than putting together an album with Trevor Rabin, who would say, “this is what you’re playing, this is what you’re singing, this is the way I want it”, etc. For the first time in maybe twenty years, we were together as a group in order to make a proper album. You know, in the eighties, it was the producers and record companies controlling the finances. They would say that you have to do what the producer says, and then you’re given the money to make an album. For the last fifteen years, the band have been held together by accountants and record companies.’

The Ladder featured the instant classic ‘Homeworld‘, which combined the styles of classic 1970s YES and ‘Hearts‘ one of the more successful 1980s recordings. Other prominent tracks that found favour with the audience included ‘Lightning Strikes‘ which was released as a single, Bob Marley tribute ‘The Messenger‘ and ‘New Language‘, which, with its incorporation of all the traditional YES hallmarks, was the latterday equivalent to the classic ‘All Good People‘. Many miles away, stylistically speaking, from the unrepresentative Open Your Eyes, The Ladder sent interest in the band soaring and reached number 36 in the album charts.

The 1999 world tour began in September in Rio De Janeiro. The main focus of the stage set for the South American tour was a huge square YES logo, designed by Roger Dean, in the middle of a back-projection screen. The ‘carved rock’ design was once again placed on the front of Alan White’s drum riser, whilst Jon’s harp stood at the back of the stage awaiting its use in ‘Awaken‘. Cosmic symbols were prominent on stage, while a simple light show projected images around tented screens, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. As Jon elaborated, ‘We always have had excellent equipment and it’s looking good, but we don’t have finances like U2 who took the Zoo TV on the road, which was amazing.’

As Jon points out, nothing can ever be taken for granted in YES. ‘People working in groups can sometimes feel that they don’t want to be in the group anymore. Like Rick, saying “I don’t want to be in the band anymore, it’s frustrating;” eventually you say okay. You never know what’s going to happen, we are going on tour soon and you don’t know how life is going to be. I’m just so happy that we were able to make The Ladder because it completes a really good cycle, we have been on a 30-year cycle and we have got back to where we really should be musically.’

Bruce Fairbarn's track chart/Artwork by Steve Hennesy

Lyrics

HOMEWORLD (THE LADDER)

Nothing can take us far enough
Emotion… far enough together
As the light shines so bright
Bright enough to let us in

Nothing can bridge our souls’
Devotion… fast enough together
As the power proves you right
Right enough to let you begin

So many displaced among the future dreamers
Realised their doubles
Took a new step
A question of origin

Only in the recent past
Seeking for to realise
Skyward shone
Like beacons
A question of origin

Ten thousand millions free
To the westward light
The dreamers represent
This arc of peace

As the poets entranced
The anchor redeemed
Secrets of science
The history of the future
Was surely made

Just what keeps us so alive
Just what makes us realise
Our home
Is our world, our life
Home is our world

Nothing can take us far enough
Emotion… far enough together
As the light shines so bright
Bright enough to let us in

Nothing can bridge our souls
Devotion… fast enough together
As the power proves you right
Right enough to let you begin

Speak so fast to the prophets
Of the living
Looking for the signs
Spanning out the centuries
Search for truth

Ancient ones… they watch
And listen
Carry our wishes
Took upon themselves to guide us
Through the endless skies

Just what keeps us so alive
Just what makes us realise
Our home
Is our world, our life
Our hope is our world, our life

I have seen the passion
That’s in the hope that everyone
Will find their way into
The secret of
The home of your heart

Living within the vision
Within the power, beyond belief
We see that hate destroys the soul
Of anyone who tries to teach it

I have seen the dream
That’s in your heart
That’s in your eyes
To bring you closer to the one

It’s what keeps us so alive
It’s what makes us realise
Our home is our world, our life
Just what keeps us so alive
Just what makes us realise
Our home
Is our world, our life
Home is our world, our life

Send, ascending to the secrets
All is pure and clear to resolve
Nothing can change us now
Send, ascending to the future
Nothing can ever change us now
We follow the sun
We follow the sun
We follow the sun

Truth is a simple place
Here for us all to see
Reach as it comes to you
As it comes to me
As I will always need you inside my heart

Peace is a word we teach
A place for us all to reach
Sing as it sings to you
As it sings to me
As I will always need you inside my heart

LIGHTNING STRIKES

What you gonna do when the lightning strikes and hits you
Who ya gonna call for the secret of stealing the world
Swimming in this ocean of words on your new cellphone
Diving for the wisdom of pearls in your eyes
Come on

What ya gonna do when the lightning strikes and hits you
How ya gonna laugh when the joker forgets his lines
Stepping off a cloud into space whatever greets you
Show me how you got this award for being alive

Waking up is waking to the power
Dancing up is dancing till the dawn
Talk talk talk will always get you someplace
Shake it up ‘n’ shake me till I’m done
Shake it up now!

She ay… Do wa bap
She ay… Do wa bap
She ay… Do wa bap
She ay… Do wa bap

Who ya gonna call when the power
Begins to chase you
Spinning out of shape now you’re learning to live again
Fastening your seatbelt tonight it could get jumpy

Showing me the good ‘n’ that
Life is not in vain

Take take take ‘n’ take me thru the lightning
Walk don’t talk me always on the run
Ride it out until you get the picture
Shake it up and let me get me some
Let me get me some

FACE TO FACE

Here we are trying to mend all the broken hearts
In a world where the pain is the fear
Ain’t no doubt there’s a method to madness here
Set your clock to the start of a brand new year

Shine your heart to the universe and get the news
Not alone never have been, never will be
See the truth, not to mention the promise made
See them all, see them all high on judar rhythm

We began at the very first spring
How the promise will come when the promise is made
We will sing at the very first spring
That the promise will come when the promise is made
Promise is made, promise is made

Shake me up, take me up
Face to face

Lift me up, shake me up
Face to face

Make me real, make me longing to see you smile
Shall we dancing, shall we be the dancing down under
In this life of lives, are we ready to take the chance
Moving to the rhythm, here at last to

Believe
To believe

We began at the first real spring
How the promise will come when the promise is made
We will sing at the very first spring
That the promise will come when the promise is made

We began at the first real spring – ya
We will sing at the very first spring – ya

We began at the first real spring
We will sing at the very first spring
How the promise will come when the promise is made
Promise is made, promise is made

We began at the first real spring
That the promise will come when the promise is made
We will sing at the very first spring
That the promise will come when the promise is made
Promise is made, promise is made

TO BE ALIVE (HEP YADDA)

Not a lot is missing
Every ounce of treasure found
And I believe that everyone should get what
They’re allowed
Suspected of belief that comes suspended
In a sound
And everybody wants some

It’s the sound they make in heaven
It’s a sound for here on earth
I’ve heard it in the whispering
Of the wonders that we search
We’ve waited far too long
To hear the healing of the stars
‘N’ everybody wants some

Everybody wants some
Everybody wants some
Everybody wants some
Everybody wants some
To feel alive

Oh – does it get much better than this
Oh – does it get much better, much better
Oh – does it get much better than this, than this

There’s the sound that keeps you trying
There’s the sound that makes you smile
There’s a sound in every corner
Of the world that we survive

Your temple is the harmony
You feel the sacred ground
Just wishing for the secret
To appear within the sound
Watching for the morning star
The rhythm of the sun
I hear it in my waking dreams
The singing has begun

The passion that we walk upon
The passion that we bring
Is written for the mountains
They love to hear us sing

Everybody wants some
Everybody wants some
Everybody wants some
Everybody wants some
To feel alive

Oh – doesn’t get much better than this
Oh – doesn’t get much better than this, than this

Who made me make believe
I’m alive I’m living
Never underestimate
The signals coming to you
Oh
The sounding of the earth
It shakes you, yes it shakes you
Oh
The sounding of the earth
It shakes you, let it shake you

FINALLY

Finally… We put it to the test
Dedicate to the true believer in you
Finally… Put it to the test
Finally

Make no mistake to the mainstream
Music be the master planner
Just like the books you read
You’ll hear it on your radio scanner

It’s not so much what you know
Or who you know that’s coming
Its what you do regardless
Its what you do… eventually

Finally… We put it to the test
Dedicate to the true believer in you
Finally… Put it to the test
Finally

I’ve seen them running, down and out
Never mind the good intentions
A dreamer with a reason to live
Is as clear as his next invention

You take a second look to find
A second chance at giving
The voices say do not despair
There’s a real good reason you’re living

I could feel the earth moving
I could see sky falling
We can chase the storm
We can sing the rain
Walk the final distance
Live this life again

Finally… We put it to the test
Dedicate to the true believer in you
Finally… Put it to the test telling me to let go

I can feel the earth moving (I can sing the rain)
I can feel the rain coming (live this life again)
I can feel the storm
I can sing the rain
I can free my heart
Live this life again
You can choose to stand
You can choose to fall
You can see the rain
You can have it all

I can feel the rain coming
I can feel the earth moving
I can feel the love coming

I can feel the earth moving
I can feel the rain coming
I can feel the love coming
I can feel the earth moving

THE MESSENGER

Judging by the voice
He was free to himself so real
We slaved ourselves to sacrifice
More than that we do not know
Then you hear him on the radio
He would play the sacred themes
That my children sang to me

Amazing as it seems
It was the answer to my dream
His heart that touches me
More than that I do not not know
Then I hear him on the radio
Remembering his every word

That my children sing to me
We have seen the world, this ecstasy
Now my children sing to me
This loving place, beyond belief

You got to stand stand to to together
Keep the message alive

You got to stand stand to to together
To keep the message alive

Spirit up moving, spirit up
Rhythm of sunfire

You got to stand stand to to together
Keep the message alive

Listening for his words
He would speak in ancient verse
So we mesmerize a way to go
Reaching out the universe
Reaching out the universal
Not afraid to learn new words

That our children sing to us
We have seen the world, this ecstasy
So his children bring to us
This inner peace, beyond belief

You got to stand stand to to together
Keep the message alive

You got to stand stand to to together
To keep the message alive

Spirit up moving, spirit up
Rhythm of sunfire

You got to stand stand to to together
Keep the message alive

One voice
One world
One touch
One life… truly, truly say it
One world… one voice
One touch… truly, truly say it
Some people realise
Some people see it
From the beginning
One world… one touch
One voice… one life
One touch… one voice… one world… one life

NEW LANGUAGE

I speak from some sort of protection of learning
Even tho’ I make it up as I go on
A special trait is that I’ve tried
To reach all feelings
So I speak a new language of love

Some say that it is written in the circle
Others that it is written in the sun
But I protect myself by seeing this experience
As a metaphor for moving on

Sometimes I check myself
To start to believe in
The horoscopes you read everyday
They’re telling me somethings
I really ought to know
But then again I like to
Then again I learn to
Then again I’m running away

Vision is coming so fast I can’t stop myself
Vision forgets who is real
On the city streets, people get lost
Just waiting for history
Pushing the real world away

Taking a chance only once in your life
Only weakness can stop you from hearing
New languages
Translate each word
As they bring you creation
Your voice is the perfect key

Is there something that
I’m supposed to see

Is there something that I’m
Supposed to feel
I’m with you
And I can’t help but want to know

(Talk to me)
Is there something that I’m supposed to teach
(Speak to me)
Is there something that I’m supposed to find
As I reach to the healing in each spoken word

For some strange reason time just cannot wait a minute
I’m chasing every second before I let go
Yesterday my history
Dreams are still a mystery
This living is a gift I should know

Lay it down and let me live the new language
Let me learn at every twist every turn
Lay it down and let me love the further future
Let me know I’m running
Let me know I’m learning
Let me know I’m moving on

Vision is racing so fast I can’t stop myself
Chasing the reason
For all kinds of wondering
People embracing these feelings of limbo
Just waiting for some kind of truth

Taking a chance as it comes only once
Only strength can do justice
With words of new languages
Translate creation
To bring you salvation
Your voice is the perfect key

(Talk to me)
Is there something that
I’m supposed to see
(Speak to me)
Is there something that I’m
Supposed to feel
I’m with you
And I can’t help but want to know
(New languages)

(Talk to me)
Is there something that
I’m supposed to teach
(Speak to me)
Is there something that I’m supposed to find
As I reach to the healing of each spoken word (new languages)

Taking a chance as it comes only once
Only strength can do justice
With words of new languages
Translate creation
To bring you salvation
Your voice is the perfect key

(Talk to me)
Is there something that
I’m supposed to see
(Speak to me)
Is it something that I’m
Supposed to feel
I’m with you
And I can’t help but want to know
(New languages)

(Talk to me)
Is there something that
I’m supposed to teach
(Speak to me)
Is there something that I’m supposed to find
As I reach to the healing of each spoken word (new languages)
Is it something that I’m supposed to find
As I reach to the healing of each spoken word (new languages)

NINE VOICES (LONGWALKER)

On a beach
North Africa
Nine tribesmen stand alone
Waiting for a distant call
Waiting for the world to answer
Thru’ the night of a thousand stars
Encircled by the light
They began to sing a new song
Of forces that surround us

When the sun came up they sang
As the perfect calendar says
Each had the power of people
Speaking new languages
They gave forgiveness meaning
New ways of letting go
Each child is born for greatness
With forces that surround them

This voice
This dialogue
This voice
Singing as one
Nine voices
This dialogue
Nine voices
Singing as one
His voices
This dialogue
This voices
Singing as one